Refrigerating apparatus



July 16, 1929. c. L. MCCUEN l,720.797

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. L. MCCUEN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1921 Jul 16, 1929.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1929. c. L. M CUEN 1.720.797

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M f Q 702-572-6155 MMQQM July 16, 1929. I c. L. MCCUEN 1.720.797

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ijl Jag

Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,120,791v PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. MCCUEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 6, 1921. Serial No. 435,415:

My invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus employing a refrigerant such as sulphur dioxide and the object thereof Is to provide a simple eiiicient refrigerating apparatus of this type characterized more particularly by novel constructions and compact arrangements as regards the pump and cooling means for both the refrigerant and the oil for the pump, and characterized further b the provision of a hovel construction an arrangement of the tank to receive the discharge from the pump and also to act as an oil trap as to one of its compartments therein. My structure embodies other novel and advantageous features of construction and mode of operation which will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus (with the exception of the refrigerating or expansion coils which are not shown) with the motor and a portion of the base in elevation; Fig. 2 an elevation of one side of the apparatus but on a smaller scale; Fig. 3 a sectional elevation on the irregular line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a section on the irregular line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a sectional plane on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 a section on the line 66 of Flg. 1 but on a larger scale.

Describing the particular construction as illustrated herein and selected as an embodiment of my invention, the apparatus as well as its prime mover such as the electric motor 1 is preferably mounted upon a common base 2 which may consist of an integral structure or of component parts as desired. As shown this base is provided with vertical portions 3 having an inturncd flange 4.- to which is secured the apparatus proper including the pump, the cooling means and the enclosing housing. Describing the parts of this apparatus, the pump 5 is preferably of the herring-bone type such as illustrated in Leonard Patent No. 1,233,069 issued July 10, 1917, and it will therefore suilice for the purpose of this case to say that the pump consists of the easing and the pump proper. The pump is contained within a cylindrical casing 6 closed permanently at its left hand end and having a removable closure at its other end formed by the annular flange 7 forming the outer end head of the pump, such head being secured to the outturned marginal flange 8 of the casing 6 by means of the series of bolts 9. The ump casing is provided with the two cylind rical' heads 10 and 11 which are preferably provided with packing rings or the like indicated at 12. There is thus formed between these two heads an annular oil chamber 13 which is adapted to supply oil to the pump through the depending inlets 14. The packing rings 12 prevent the flow of oil between the cylinder heads 10 and 11, and the casing 6 either into or out of the oil chamber 13.

The pump head 7 is performed with a cylindrical extension 15 provided with an inlet pipe or connection 16 (Fig. 4) having an inlet pipe 17 communicating with the pump inlet. This inlet pipe is provided with an inlet port 18 governed by a suitable check valve such as the spring pressed ball 19. This inlet connection 16 is also provided with an outlet port 20 governed by a check valve such as the spring pressed ball 21. When the cap 22 is removed a proper gauge having means for pressing the ball 21 from its seat may be inserted for the usual purposes. This extension 15 is rovided with a screw threaded bushing 23 aving a bearing opening to receive the drivin shaft 24 which is operatively connected with the armature shaft 25 of the motor. This bushing has an angular head 26 whereby it may be held in adjusted position by means ofthe looking dog 27.

The pump is provided at its left hand end with. a discharge connection 28 with which communicates a vertical discharge pipe 29 extending through the top of the casing 6and through the bottom of a tank 30 and also to near the top of the interior of the latter. A tube 31 which is connected atits ends to the casing 6 and tank 30 in any 5 itable manner supports one end of tank 30 i spaced relation to the casing 6 and at the s e time serves as a passage for the discharge pipe 29.

The tank 30 is provided with a vertical par tition or bafiie plate 33 thereby forming within the tank a discharge chamber 34 for the refrigerant gas and any commingled oil. and a still chamber 35 communicating with the discharge port 36 at the top of such tank. The partition or plate 33 is perforated by openings 37 and 38 at the bottom and top respectively of such plate. The chamber 34 is provided as a compartment wherein the oil may be separated from the gas and the chamber 35 is provided as a quiet or still compartment for the gas before it passes outwardly to the cooling means hereinafter described.

I provide cooling means for the oil in which the pump is substantially submerged and with which it cooperates in the pumping action. The oil cooling means as herein shown consists of coils 39 which encircle the casing 6 and with their inlet end 40 connected to the bottom of the chamber 34 and their outlet end 41 with the bottom of the annular space 13 around the pump. By these means the oil which is carried along with the refrigerant gas through the discharge pipe is circulated rom the bottom of the chamber 34 through the coils 39 wherein such oil is cooled as will be hereinafter described, and thence carried back to the pump into which it enters through the inlet nozzles or openings 14.

By preference the tank 30 is still further divided by means of the partition 42 so as to provide a chamber 43, acting as an oil trap in connection with the inlet of the pump. As shown in Fig. 1 the preferable construction of the tank 30 with respect to the provision of the chamber 43 consists in the employment of the partition 42 provided with an annular flange 44, in connection with a short cylinder 45 closed at its outer end and having a corresponding annular flange 46. These flanges are secured-together and also to the annular flange 47 of the body of the tank 30 by means of the bolts 48. As shown in Fig.4 the return pipe 49 leading from the expansion coils (not shown) extends upwardly into the top of the chamber or trap 43 while a discharge pipe 50 leads from the bottom of such trap and communicates with the inlet port 18 and thence with the pump'inlet. The purpose of this trap is to serve as a reservoir to catch and temporarily retain any oil which may surge back past the check valve 19 (in a brief time before it can act, the spring being preferably very light) when the pump is shut down and before equalization of pressure can take place.

The discharge 36 from the tank 30 communicates with the connection 51 which in turn communicates with the manifold 52 (Fig. 5) whose opposite ends connect with the two sets of cooling means or devices located in vertical position on opposite sides of the casing 6 and tank 30. As shown the manifold 52 connects at its ends with separate manifolds 53 which in turn communicate with the series of fin-provided horizontal cooling tubes 54 which are connected at their ends by return bends 55. The refrigerant gas passes through these cooling tubes and is cooled thereby so as to become a liquid by the time the same reaches at least the lower set or sets of cooling tubes. The outlet ends of the last set of tubes connect with separate manifolds 56 which in turn communicate with a common manifold 57. As shown in Fig. 6 this latter manifold is provided at its center with a fixture including a shut-off valve. This fixture consists of a casing 58 having two opposite inlet passages 59 communicating with the arms of the manifold'57 and a discharge passage 60 and the shut-off valve 61 which is adapted to seat on the seat 62 is screw threaded in the bushing 63 and provided with an angular end 64 to receive a suitable operating socket wrench. A remov able cap 65 is preferably provided.

The apparatus above described is enclosed by means of an outer casing 66 with the exception that the opposite sides thereof are opened for the passage of air as indicated in Fig. 2 and also that the projecting hood 67 thereof is open wherein the screen or radial rods 68 are provided. The casing 6 of the pump structure is provided with supporting plates 69 and 70 located at the front and rear ends thereof, such plates being provided with suitable openings for the free circulation of air throughout the interior of the casing 66 folr tlie urpose of coolin the gas and the o1 bottom of the chamber 72 formed by the easing 66 and also forms the top of a refrigerant liquid chamber 73 formed therebclow by means of the pan 74. This pan is loosely nested within another but larger pan 75 which is spaced therefrom at the bottom and also along the sides in order to provide a refrigerant gas reservoir or chamber 76 into which the gas from the expansion coils leads through the pipe connection 77. The reservoir 73 communicates through the connection 78 with expansion coils, (not shown) there being preferably provided at the top of such connection and within the reservoir an outlet casing 79 having a screen 80. As shown in Fig. 1 the plate 71 is upset at the point 81 and into and throughsaid portion the fixture 58 is'screwed. As a result the liquid refrigerant passes from the cooling tubes into the reservoir 73.

As shown in Fig. 1 the 'pans 74 and 75 are provided with marginal flanges 82 and 83 respectively which together with the bottom plate 71 and flange 84 of the supporting plate 69 are secured to the flange 4 by means'of the bolts 85. The reservoir 76 communicates through the pipe connection 86 with the inlet pipe 49.

At the juncture or coupling between the armature shaft and the pump shaft 34 there is provided a fan 87 secured to the armature shaft and rotating within the hood or extension 67 of the casing for the purpose of circulating air through the apparatus in one direction or the other according to the disposition of the blades of the fan.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating apparatus adapted to receive therein a refrigerant and a lubricant, said apparatus comprising a pump for compressing refrigerant, means providing a .chamber into which the pump discharges,

means for condensing the compressed refrigerant including a refrigerant liquid reservo1r orizontal plate 71 constitutes they disposed below said chamber, an oil cooling means in operative communication with the pump and positioned between said chamber and said reservoir.

2. A refrigerating apparatus adapted to receive therein a refrigerant and a lubricant, said apparatus comprising a pump for compressing refrigerant, means providing a chamber into which the pump discharges, means for condensing the compressed refrigerant including a refrigerant liquid reservoir disposed below said chamber, oil-cooling means in operative communication with the pump and positioned between said chamber.

and said reservoir, and a low-pressure refrigerant-gas reservoir connected to the inlet of the pump and in nested heat-exchange relationship with the chamber.

3. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant reservoir in communication with the discharge of the pump, and a gaseous refrigerant reservoir in communication with the intake of the pump, said reservoirs having a pair of cupped walls, one of said cupped walls being common to said two reservoirs.

4. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant reservoir in communication with the discharge of the pump, and a gaseous refrigerant reservoir in communication with the intake of the pump, said reservoirs formed of a plate and a pair of cupped members secured thereto.

5. A refrigerating apparatusincluding a pump for the refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant reservoir below said pump and in communication with the discharge of the pump, and a gaseous refrigerant reservoir below the pump and in communication with the intake of the pump, said reservoirs formed of a plate, a pair of cupped plates secured to the underside of said plate, and common means for securing all of said plates together.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a rotary pump adapted to compress the gasified refrigerant, a conduit for conducting the gasified refrigerant to the intake of said pump, and a trap associated with said conduit for trapping any oil surging back into said conduit from the pump when the pump ceases to operate, and for returning said oil to the pump through said conduit.

7. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a casing depending from the pump, a reservoir located below the casing, cooling coils communicating between the pump and reservoir, a plate separating the casing from the reservoir, and oil cooling coils located in such casing and communicating with the pump.

8. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a refrigerant-condenser connected with the pump, a casing enclosing such pump and forming therewith a space adapted to contain oil and communicating with the pump interior, and oil cooling coils encircling the casing and connected with the discharge of said pump and opening into said space to lead cooled lubricant into said space.

9. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a casing enclosing such pump and forming therewith a space adapted to contain lubricant material and communicating with the pump interior, a tank into which the pump discharges, and a lubricant-conducting cooling conduit connecting between said tank and space in the casing for taking heated lubricant from said tank and returning cooled lubricant to said space.

10. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a asing enclosing such pump and forming therewith a space adapted to contain oil and communicating with the pump interior, a chamber located above the casing, said pump having a discharge pipe extending upwardly through the top of the casing and discharging directly into said chamber, and means for taking oil from said chamber, cooling it and returning it to said casing.

11. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a casing enclosing such pump and forming therewith a space adapted to contain oil and communicating with the pump interior, said pump having a discharge pipe extending upwardly through the top of the casing, and a tank which is located above the casing and into which said pipe discharges, a tube surrounding said pipe to form an annular passage communicating between the tank and casing.

12. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a refrigerant conduit communicating with the pump discharge and adapted to receive refrigerant therefrom, an oil-cooling conduit communicating with the pump and forming an enclosure in which the pump is located, and means for air-cooling said conduits.

13. A refrigerating apparatus including a pump for the refrigerant, a refrigerant conduit communicating with the pump discharge and adapted to receive refrigerant therefrom, an oil-cooling conduit having vertically disposed loops surrounding the pump and in communication therewith and means for circulating air about said conduits.

14. A refrigerating apparatus including a rotary pump for compressing'the gasified re frigerant, a receptacle for oil disposed above the pump, a condenser for the gas compressed. by the pump comprising conduits connected in-parallel and disposed on opposite sides of said pump and of said receptacle, an oilcooling conduit positioned between said condenser conduits and opening into said receptacle and into the interior of said pump for leading oil into said pump, and means for circulating cooling fluid in contact with said conduits.

15. A refrigerating apparatus including a rotary pump for compressing the gasified refrigerant, a receptacle for oil disposed above the pump, a condenser for the gas compressed by the pump comprising conduits connected in parallel and disposed on opposite sides of said pump and of said receptacle, an oilcooling conduit positioned between said condenser conduits and opening into said receptacle and into the interior of said pump for leading oil into said pump, and means for circulating cooling air over said oil-cooling conduit and laterally through both of said condensing conduits.

16. A refrigerating apparatus including a rotary pump for compressing the gasified refrigerant, a receptacle for oil disposed above the pump. a condenser for the gas compressed by the pump comprising a condenser conduit disposed at one side of the pump, an oil-coolin g conduit opening into said receptacle and into the interior of said pump for leading oil into said pump, and means for circulating cooling fluid about said oil-cooling conduit and transversely through said condenser.

17. A refrigerating apparatus including a I rotary pump for compressing the gasifie'd refrigerant, a receptacle for oil disposed above the pump, a condenser for the gas compressed by the pump comprising conduits disposed on opposite sides of said pump and of said receptacle, an oil-cooling conduit positioned between said condenser conduits and opening into said receptacle and into the interior of said pump for leading oil into said pump, and means for circulating cooling fluid in contact with said conduits con'iprising a housing and fan means so arranged as to direct airover said oil-cooling conduit and in opposite directions over said condenser conduits.

18. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pump adapted to compress the gasified refrigerant, a chamber connected with the discharge of said pump and in which said pump is adapted to discharge compressed refrigerant, a chamber connected with the intake of said pump constituting a trap for oil surging out of the pump, said chambers being related as a unitary structure comprising a tank open at one end, and a pair of covers secured over the mouth of said tank and so formed as to form between them one of said chambers.

CHARLES L. MOGUEN. 

